Janet Jackson once sang, “What have you done for me lately?” I assert that many allies cannot answer this question in a meaningful way that counts. It is great if allies believe the words written in the Declaration of Independence where it states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created…
Thursday night fourteen-year-old Zaila Avant-garde won the 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee. With her win she became the first African American winner in the competition’s 96-year history. She is only the 2nd Black winner, the first being Jody-Anne Maxwell of Jamaica in 1998. She also the first winner from her state. Zaila competed in the…
July 1 brings us to the middle of the year and is also when new laws go into effect. Although Indiana citizens should be aware of all laws, educators should pay close attention to laws that impact education or children. Teacher Union Dues (Senate Enrolled Act 251) – This law will not go into effect…
This month, I had the opportunity to be a presenter for the Keep Indiana Learning Summer Conference. My presentation was called “Embracing Equity to Strive Towards Excellence.” There are many school leaders who are now beginning equity work or are in the early stages of the work but aren’t sure how to do the work…
The 21st Century Scholars program has been ensuring students from low-income families could access a college education for decades. The deadline for this year’s application is June 30. The program began in 1990 and offers qualifying students up to four years of college tuition. To qualify, students must: Be an Indiana resident Be enrolled in…
If you are a college sports fan, then you have undoubtedly heard the criticism about athlete compensation. College athletes don’t get paid, in spite of the fact that college sports are a multi-billion-dollar industry. Coaches, schools, and television networks make millions. Players receive a scholarship, and that is it. Scholarships are highly coveted, but well…
Gavin Grimm, now 22, filed a lawsuit when he was a teenager after being told he could no longer use the male restroom at his school. Grimm, who is a transgender male, believed that his rights were being violated. The school told him he could either use the female restroom or use a private restroom….
The coronavirus pandemic put a strain on the education profession. Teachers shifted from in person education to remote education with no notice and had to figure out how to make it work so students could learn. This was on top of trying to survive the pandemic and care for themselves and their loved ones. The…
One of the most important aspects to remember in educational policy is that it’s not just about the laws themselves, but also how those laws are interpreted. That has been shown to be the case yet again with the Department of Education’s most recent guidance on Title IX. President Joe Biden’s Education Department affirmed that…
When my identical twin sons were born, I wanted them to be exposed to the resources in our city. I purchased annual memberships to the Indianapolis Zoo, The Children’s Museum, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. As my boys grew older, I began ending memberships. The Indianapolis Zoo went first since my sons were no…